Why is Jessica Zalusky racing AMA?

[Bigsexy]

Here's something to think about, almost every time i walked past JZ's pits this weekend i saw her signing some little girls shirt. that little girl is now a fan and will want to come watch JZ every year and maybe some day she will want to buy a bike, why not buy one just like her favorite racer JZ is riding. Maybe thats why sponsors like her. Just my 2-cents

[Johnny B]

"Back in the 80's, I remember that there was a fairly well known provision called the "Promotor's Option". It gave the race promotor the right to install up to three racers of their choice on the grid. Most likely there for the local heros to be included, or any other interesting racer. I remember Kathleen Coburn being on the grid for the 1986 Loudon Classic through this provision.
Fast forward to a few years ago in Daytona. Steve DeCamp arrives with his normal three rider Hooters team, plus Kathleen Coburn-Head, who hadn't been seen roadracing for about 10-15 years. She was a little rusty, so she wasn't really back up to speed. At the end of qualifying, she was 81st in the standings, the first rider not to make the cut. Steve argued at the riders meeting that not all of those who qualified would show up to race, he wanted them to let her in one of the vacant slots that was sure to show up. The AMA said no, so Kathleen packed up her stuff and left. I heard a rumor that not long after she was gone, officials were looking for her. Seems that she was going to be included in the race under the Promotor's Option."

That's my post, Mike. They are now moot points under the qualifying time cutoff rule.
Loudon was one of the shorter tracks on the AMA tour, so the grid was set at 35 bikes instead of the normal 40 that were run at the other tracks. There was no cutoffs back then and the rules stated that the promotor could add up to three entries.
As far as Daytona, the AMA was waffling on enforcing the cutoff % for a few years. The guy I crewed for in 1997 had dificulty getting his bike sorted out. His best lap time was over three minutes, but he was 79th fastest, so he made the grid! (He finished 39th, beating "Kiwi" Steve Vasblom!)

"Promotor's Option" is a thing of the past.

[Super Dave]

I think there are some options out there.  Mid-Ohio last year saw some interesting stuff with a lot of guys not doing the heat race, etc.

The AMA is "the show".  Jessica works hard.  Nothing more to say about that.  She might not always make the field, but she puts in the effort.  Comparing her speed to years ago, yeah, she has gotten faster. 


Steve Vasbloom...   

Who were those other chicks with Kathleen Coburn?  They were at Gateway in around '88, and the weren't that awful.  They tried to qualify for Suzuka that one year, but missed it.  I think that race was different than it was now.  Was always cool to go to Mid-Ohio because a bunch of guys would be wearing their special Suzuka leathers and stuff.  John Choat and the guy that used to ride the Britten got ninth in 1991 or so...that was cool.  I always thought it was funny that 1/4ley and Randy Renfro could ride together...big guy and a little guy.

[proechel539]

Its all about economics and selling bikes on Monday. Who really gives a shit where she finishes. Shave you're legs,, put on a skirt, and go ride a Kawasaki! Or just get a big glass of shut the f... up and have a nice day!

[Super Dave]

 

[r1owner]

Shave you're legs,, put on a skirt, and go ride a Kawasaki!

Dude, don't tempt Dave!

[gregLewis]

Quote - "But to my question, this isn't her first year either. She barely qualifies and is usually last. After 3 years of this she hasn't improved one bit. Give someone worthy a shot."



Others have, I believe, made the point very well...she's earned it. But considering your statement...if she were to quit, then the next slowest qualifier might "barely qualify", and someone else would be last. So then get rid of them. And then someone else would barely qualify, and...I think you see where this is going. How exciting is a 2 bike grid?

Sure, it would be great if she were faster; I'm sure she'd like to be faster. But she's out there doing her best, and most of us would trade places with her in a second...even if we'd usually finished last.

Guess I'm a fan or somethin'.   

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Dude, don't tempt Dave!

Tempt Dave? Hell he already does that.

[suzukigirl]

OK... I'm not a regular here on the CCS board, but was directed here for this convo, and as a 'getting faster' girl, I can't help but throw my opinion out there.

First of all... fast girls are a rarity, and if she is on that grid, then she is fast enough.  And, as said many times already, she is marketable, which is a big part of this game.

Everyone has made some really good points about how she is with the fans, etc... but the main thing I wanted to point out is that she is factory SUPPORTED, not a full factory rider.  I was at the races this weekend, and for anybody else that was there, did you notice her huge pit crew, factory hauler, or any of that?  No, because she doesnt have it.  I have no idea how much support she actually gets, but I can tell you that I watched her taking her own wheels off, hauling tires over to the Pirelli rig, and riding her bike onto pit road... instead of relaxing before the race, having the crew do all of the work, then having somebody wheel her bike onto hot pit, hook up the warmers, start it and warm it up.  She did a lot of it herself.  Sure, she had a couple of guys helping her out... they could've been Kawi guys or it could've been her boyfriend... i dont know.   But I do know that she was working all day long, down to breaking down her pit at the end of the day.

She's getting the support for doing the job.  She qualified and brought the bike home in one piece, so I told her she did a good job.  She is one of the few backmarkers that has a name... to a lot of people, so why not?  I even remember pointing out to one of the girls in the suites.... As they were heading for their warm up lap on Sunday, the commentator, of course mentioned a lot of the front runners, but one of the only back row riders he mentioned was Jessica.   

I thought it was great seeing 2 girls out there in that race.  Neither of them did spectacular, but they both qualified and they both finished.     

One day, I too hope to be as slow and as marketable as Jessica!

-Nichole

[Ducmarc]

we really need to spread these good threads out we got two good ones going then in two days nothing.i'm sure there's faster woman out there maybe slow lap times would draw them out to compete as in i'm a girl and i beat JZ at mid ohio on my brothers bike type of thing .now you got a yamaha girl .who cares who wins if you ain't in the top 7 or 8 your loosing your asssssss. and dave your showing your age I remember my boss ridding a BMW at suzuka I think they got 16th one year does that make me old?

[MJFRacing]

Good job Mike RBM! 


Two things I'll say. I see both sides and agree with both points. . .

A female racer who's good with the fans is a great person to sponsor! Anyone who gives your product positive exposure is money well spent.

I see Mike's point too. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is (or should be) racing. I know, I know. . . "Win on Sunday! Sell on monday!" but c'mon, Jessica isn't the only option and she doesn't seem to improve after these years. I think that it's frustrating to watch an "also ran" get that type of support when there is a lot of real talent out there.

Carry on. . .   

[backMARKr]

                                  WABBIT SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!